Cansecos found liable in fight

around the horn

Former baseball star Jose Canseco and twin brother Ozzie were found liable Monday at Miami in a lawsuit by two men whom they beat up at a Miami Beach nightclub in 2001.

A jury awarded Christian Presley and Alan Cheeks more than $700,000 in compensatory damages and left open the possibility of punitive damages. The panel of four men and two women reached the verdict after deliberating two days.

Presley had sought $1 million and Cheeks $500,000 in compensatory damages for their injuries as well as emotional scars from the fight at Opium Garden club. The Halloween brawl started after Presley accosted Jose Canseco’s date.

The jury awarded Presley $232,308 for injuries it said were caused by Jose Canseco. Cheeks got $506,600 for injuries, with 10 percent of the blame on Jose Canseco and 90 percent on Ozzie Canseco, the jury found. The jury said neither brother acted in self-defense.

Wood’s shoulder better

Kerry Wood said his shoulder felt better, and the Chicago Cubs hope the right-hander will be able to make his next start.

Wood left Sunday’s start early with tendinitis, but still got his first win of the season in the Cubs’ 5-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

“Kerry is feeling pretty good,” Cubs manager Dusty Baker said. “He said he is feeling real good.”

“Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Ben Sheets could miss a second turn in the rotation after being scratched from Monday’s start because of an inner ear infection.

Manager Ned Yost said Sheets was feeling better, but could be out six to 12 days with the ailment.

“The San Francisco Giants optioned fifth starter Jerome Williams to Triple-A Fresno and purchased the contract of reliever Al Levine.

“The slumping Toronto Blue Jays fired hitting coach Mike Barnett and replaced him with first-base coach Mickey Brantley.

“Former major league pitcher Earl Wilson died at the age of 70 Saturday in Detroit, the Detroit Tigers said. The team did not know a cause of death.

Associated Press